American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

A group of two documents, one signed by the famed explorer and the other by his father, a Revolutionary War officer who continued in military service after the war, including on frontier military outposts.

PIKE, Zebulon Montgomery (1779-1813). Autograph receipt signed ("Z.M. Pike"), Cincinnati, 29 May 1802. "Received Cincinnati May 29 - 1802. Of Capt R Bissell five Dollars in full of the above Account." 1p, 7 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. (creasing at folds, toning, light chipping). Pike received $5 which was applied to expenditures on "one case with Bottles" and "one Iron Pot." Docketed on verso.

[With:] PIKE, Captain Zebulon (1751-1834). Document signed ("Zebn Pike Captn"). "Provision Return for the 1st Battalion of the 3d Sub Legion Commanded by Captain Zebn Pike for two days Commencing the 21st & ending the 22nd of March 1794 inclusive." Greenville [Ohio], 20 March 1794. Docketed on verso. Return identifies rations for men of the named units, but also for 13 women and 3 children. This return was signed in Greenville just over one year before the Treaty of Greenville was signed.

Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Jr. (1779-1813) was the son of a soldier, and, although born in Trenton, NJ, grew up in a series of Midwestern (i.e. frontier) outposts. He joined his father's regiment in 1794 and earned a commission in 1799. After the return of Lewis and Clark, in 1805 General James Wilkinson ordered Pike to find the source of the Mississippi as the Lewis and Clark expedition had for the Missouri River, although many think his real mission was to spy on British strength in the region. On his return, he expected to have a period of rest, but was ordered to explore the southern parts of the Louisiana Purchase, and find the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers, and apparently to spy on Mexican troop strengths. He was captured by the Spanish in northern New Mexico (now Colorado) and taken to Chihuahua by way of Santa Fe. He was ultimately released on the Louisiana border after being taken back through much of Texas.